Dorchester Chamber Annual Meeting and Dinner

Thursday, March 19, 2026
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort & Spa
Click Here to Purchase Tickets
University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, recently honored team members with service award presentations. Ken Kozel, UM SRH President and Katie Halen, Vice President, Human Resources, hosted the service award luncheon at the Tidewater Inn, honoring over 20 recent retirees and celebrating those with service milestones of 10 to 55 years. “Our team members’ loyalty to Shore Regional Health and their dedication to our UMMS
Salisbury, MD – January 29, 2025 – Coastal Hospice proudly announces the 2026 Board of Directors Executive Committee transitions, recognizing the dedicated Executive Committee members who are stepping down from officer roles to continue their service as Board members, while welcoming new leaders into Executive Committee positions. These thoughtful transitions reflect Coastal Hospice’s commitment to strong governance, continuity, and mission-driven leadership in support of patients and families facing
TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Harry Lehman, III, MD, to Atlantic General Pediatrics at the Gudelsky Family Medical Center in Berlin, Maryland. He is passionate about preventative care for the children he sees and enjoys teaching parents who entrust him with their children. After graduating with his medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Lehman continued at Hahnemann to complete his pediatric residency. He is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of
SALISBURY – TidalHealth is pleased to announce that Ovais Khalid, MD, has been appointed Medical Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Khalid is a board-certified psychiatrist with more than 15 years of experience in mental health care. He completed his psychiatry residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 2013 and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). He was named a Fellow of the American Psychiatric
SALISBURY – TidalHealth has partnered with the nonprofit organization Walk with a Doc to host a free walk at the Salisbury Riverwalk from 10 to 11 am on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. Participants will meet at Unity Square, 100 Circle Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801. This month’s guest speaker will be Dr. Sumit Khurana of TidalHealth’s Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, who will share key information on cardiovascular health in recognition of American Heart Month. Following a brief educational session with
Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, left, President and CEO of TidalHealth and Pasquale Petrera, MD, President of Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates, sign an agreement creating the TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute. Salisbury, MD — TidalHealth today announced the integration of Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates (POA), one of Delmarva’s most respected orthopaedic practices, into the TidalHealth system through the creation of the TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute, a unified, system-wide
Sharnell Smith, MD, provides care at TidalHealth Breast Center in Salisbury, Maryland and TidalHealth General Surgery in Seaford, Delaware. Dr. Smith earned her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and completed her general surgery residency at Howard University Hospital, where she was selected to serve as chief resident. With 12 years of general surgery experience, Dr. Smith recently completed her breast surgical oncology fellowship at Ohio State University
TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Audrey Khoury, MD, MPH, to TidalHealth Cardiovascular Surgery in Salisbury, Maryland. Dr. Khoury received her master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She then earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, where she went on to complete her residency in the Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program. Dr.
TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Michael Sabadish, MD, to TidalHealth Cardiology in Salisbury, Maryland. Dr. Sabadish earned his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he also completed his internal medicine residency and his fellowship in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology. Dr. Sabadish is board certified in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology. He comes with a wealth of clinical experience, has received multiple awards and
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional honors the following four team members as 3rd Quarter 2025 Team Members of the Quarter:Administrative & Support Services: Joyce Jones, Environmental Services Joyce Jones of Environmental Services (EVS) is TidalHealth Peninsula Regional’s 3rd Quarter 2025 Team Member of the Quarter for Administrative and Support Services. Jones is an environmental services aide who is known for her outstanding work ethic and positive attitude. She consistently anticipates tasks and completes
Binesh Shrestha, MD University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) and UM Shore Medical Group-Cardiology (UM SMG) recently announced the addition of interventional cardiologist Bishesh Shrestha, MD, to the team. UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System. Dr. Shrestha will provide advanced interventional cardiology care for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions, working closely with primary care providers and specialists to manage coronary artery disease,
TidalHealth cut the ribbon Nov. 17 to officially open the health system’s new Pediatric Development & Therapy Clinic in Salisbury. In the photo, from the left, are, Steve Tracy, Vice President of Corporate Ventures & President of Peninsula Health Ventures; Alexis Laws, MS, BCBA, LBA, Clinical Supervisor; Dr. Samantha Scott, Psychology Postdoctoral Program Director, Clinical Psychology Fellowship and Cindy Lunsford, Ed.D., MSN, RN, Executive Vice President & COO of TidalHealth. On Nov. 17, TidalHealth
TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Eugide Othepa, MD, to Atlantic General Primary Care in Berlin, Maryland. Dr. Othepa earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in West Indies, Dominica. He completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital Gulfport in Mississippi, where he was chief resident. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians and brings extensive clinical experience, including research and
Melissa Eigenbrode, MSN, RN, CRNP Andrew Pajak, DO EASTON, Md. (November 12, 2025) – University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH) Pulmonary Care team and UM Shore Medical Group-Pulmonary Care (UM SMG) are pleased to announce the addition of physician Andrew Pajak, DO, and nurse practitioner Melissa Eigenbrode, MSN, RN, CRNP, to the team. Dr. Pajak will also be providing critical care services to the Intensive Care Unit at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton. UM SRH is a member organization
OCEAN PINES – TidalHealth is pleased to welcome board-certified urogynecologist Peter G. O’Hare III, MD, to TidalHealth Urogynecology in Ocean Pines, Maryland. He is the Director of the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at TidalHealth. In his busy clinical practice, Dr. O’Hare works with women of all ages to diagnose, manage and treat their pelvic floor disorders, such as prolapse and incontinence. He offers a wide variety of treatment options that cater to the individual needs
TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Andrew Canakis, DO, a gastroenterologist specializing in advanced endoscopic procedures, to TidalHealth Gastroenterology in Ocean Pines, Maryland. A native of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, he is proud to bring cutting-edge care back to his home community. Dr. Canakis earned his bachelor’s degree in history from the College of William and Mary and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he received the prestigious 2018
TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Grace Salacup, MD, to TidalHealth Pulmonary & Critical Care in Salisbury, Maryland. Dr. Salacup earned her medical degree from the University of the City of Manila-College of Medicine in the Philippines. She completed her internal medicine residency at the Jefferson Health-Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Dr. Salacup is a pulmonary and critical care
Dr. Jeffrey Etherton poses on the helipad at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton with his UM Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) colleagues from the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and UM Shore Medical Group – Cardiology, as well as UM SRH leadership team members. EASTON, Md. (October 15, 2025) – For 40 years, Jeffrey Howard Etherton, MD, has been at the forefront of cardiac care, saving lives and shaping heart health on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This summer, the University of Maryland Shore Regional
BERLIN – TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Christopher Brancato, MD, to TidalHealth Cardiology in Berlin, Maryland. Dr. Brancato received his medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. He completed his internal medicine residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital & Medical Center in New York City, where he went on to complete his fellowships in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. Dr. Brancato is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular
Fello has partnered with local businesses and sponsors to touch as many lives as possible during the holiday season for more than 20 years. We help lessen the burden on families so they can focus on what’s most important – spending time together. Our program provides holiday gifts to children with disabilities and their siblings. We also include a minimum of a $100 grocery store gift card per family (with an extra $25 for each additional child) to help prepare a special holiday meal. We support over 300
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